Spotlight on Education at Durham Wildlife Trust

Learning and education are an important part of what Durham Wildlife Trust does. Learning is what can happen when people are given experiences that magically transform into understanding and insight. Hey presto!

Fortunately, at Durham Wildlife Trust we have access to the ultimate learning space – nature. We can, literally, put the learning experience in the palm of our visitors’ hands to help people understand the world around them and their relationship with it.

Our work with schools is specifically designed to address set curricular outcomes, but the hands-on nature of our learning means that visitors can interactively connect with their environment and the flora and fauna in it. The learning experience happens because they are immersed in it, whether they are pond-dipping or pushing their bravery boundaries by holding their first creepy-crawlies. The children are actively engaging with their surroundings and, literally, learning with their hands.

The Trust staff think of themselves as facilitators who provide the safe environment and environmental context to help the children (and adults) attain a deeper understanding about the natural world they are experiencing. It is an absolute joy and privilege to be a part of the ‘wow’ moments; the silent explosion of synapses firing and linking as experiences morph into knowledge.

At Durham Wildlife Trust, we offer a diverse range of opportunities for a wide range of participants, including:

• School visits to our reserves where our experienced staff facilitate learning across the sites.

• Visits to schools to help them explore their local environment.

• Outdoor learning training for education providers.

• A range of holiday clubs and sessions – covering outdoor learning, forest school and bushcraft activities.

• A selection of Ranger and Wildlife Watch clubs, aimed at offering access to our facilities for younger people wanting to explore the natural world further.

For further details about these and other opportunities visit durhamwt.com/events

But why do we bother? The truth is, the outcomes and benefits of learning about our world are priceless. Education at Durham Wildlife Trust delivers:

• Improved physical and mental well-being for participants.

• A greater understanding of our place in the natural world.

• Increased knowledge about how to look after your local environment.

Your wildlife experience doesn’t have to end when the session finishes. Visit again and enjoy nature on a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve, or explore your local patch and enjoy the nature on your doorstep. Join Wildlife Watch or Rangers, and, if you’re a bit older, you can get involved in some of our volunteer opportunities. As a member of the Trust you can stay connected with wildlife news across our region, and who knows where your interest might take you. One day you might be sitting where I am, trying to the think of the perfect ways to explain why learning with Durham Wildlife Trust is just the best thing ever!

To book a school trip, visit: durhamwt.com/adventure-schools